Crimping apparatus



Feb. 14, 1956 E, H, SHATTUCK I 2,734,252

CRIMPING APPARATUS Filed Feb. l1, 1955 36 62 am# 1M f ATTO R N EY United States Patent O CRIMPING APPARATUS Ewart H. Shattuck, Wilmington, Del., assignor to Joseph Bancroft & Sons Company, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware Application February 11, 1955, Serial No. 487,589

8 Claims. (Cl. 281) This invention relates to apparatus for crimping continuous lilament yarn and tow and has for an object to provide'an apparatus of the above type having novel and improved characteristics.

Another object is to provide in a stuffer crimper novel and improved means for regulating the rate of withdrawal from the crimping chamber.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent as the nature of the invention is more fully disclosed.

The nature of the invention will be better understood from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which a specific embodiment has been set forth for purposes of illustration.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a top plan view of a stuffer crimper embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof with parts in section to show the details of construction; and

Fig. 3 is a top plan view similar to Fig. 1 illustrating a further embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawing more in detail a crimping chamber block is attached to a supporting plate 11 by screws 12. The block 10 is formed with a vertical bore in which a sleeve 13 is fixed as by a press fit. A tube 14 forming a crimping chamber fits loosely in the sleeve 13 and is secured by a clamping nut 15 threaded onto the tapered split end 16 of the sleeve 13.

A xed bracket 2t) is attached to the plate 11. The plate 11 carries a bearing in which is journaled a shaft 23 carrying a feed roll 24.

An arm 25 is pivoted to the bracket 20 by a pin 26. The arm 25 carries a bearing in which is journaled a shaft 28 carrying a feed roll 29. The shaft 23 is driven by a motor, not shown. The shaft 28 is driven in unison therewith by meshing gears carried by the respective shafts.

The lower end of the tube 14 is slotted to receive the rolls 24 and 29 and extend below the bite of the rolls to form therewith a substantially closed chamber to receive the yarn 35 for crimping.

The feed rolls are held in adjustable pressure engagement with the yarn 35 by a spring 36 which is attached at one end to a post 37 on the arm 25 and at its other end to an adjustable pin 38 secured in a bracket 39 on the plate 11.

The tube 14 projects above the block 10. A tubular plunger 45 rests on the crimped yarn 46 in the tube 14 and carries a collar 47 which is engaged by the forked end 48 of a pivoted lever 49 and also serves as a weight to determine the back pressure on the material 46 in the crimping chamber.

The crimped yarn 46 is withdrawn from the crimping chamber through the plunger 45 by take-up rolls 58 and 59 which are driven at constant speed by a pulley 60. The yarn 35 is guided to the feed rolls by a guide 61 secured by an arm 62 to the plate 11. The take-up rolls deliver the yarn to a constant tension Winder or the like (not shown) which is capable of receiving the l ll A2,734,252 ce Patented Feb. 14, 1956 2 yarn at a variable rate as delivered thereto by the rolls 58 and 59.

The take-up roll 58 is mounted on a bracket 65 attached to the plate 11. The take-up roll 59 is mounted on an arm 66 pivoted at 67 to the bracket 65. The rolls 58 and 59 are held in gripping contact with the crimped yarn 46 by a spring 68 attached at one end to a pin 69 on the arm 66 and at the other end to an adjustable pin 70 secured in an ear 71 on the bracket 65 and held in adjusted position by a nut 72.

For adjusting the clearance between the rolls 58 and 59 a pin 75 is threaded in the bracket 65 and bears against a boss 76 on the arm 66. The lever 49 is attached to the pin by a set screw 77 and thus turns the pin 75 as the plunger 45 rises or falls in the tube 14. The yarn is guided to and from the take-up rolls by guides 78 and 79 attached to the bracket 65.

In operation the feed rolls 24 and 29 are driven at constant speed by a driving means (not shown) and feed the yarn 35 into the crimping chamber against the pressure exerted by the mass of crimped yarn in said chamber. The mass of crimped yarn is advanced along the chamber by the pressure of the incoming yarn and is withdrawn under tension from the top of the chamber by take-up rolls 58 and 59.

The plunger 45 rests upon the mass of yarn in the chamber and rises or falls according to the quantity of crimped yarn therein. When the plunger 45 rises it elevates the lever 49 and turns the pin 75 in a direction to reduce the clearance between the take-up rolls 58 and, 59. This increases the frictional pull of the take-up rolls and decreases the yarn slippage, thereby increasing:

the rate of withdrawal from the chamber. Conversely, when the plunger 45 falls, the lever 49 falls and turns; the pin 75 in a direction to increase the clearance between the take-up rolls and increase the slippage of the yarn.

The change in rate of withdrawal thus produced is selected by adjustment of the parts so that the plunger 45 remains at a substantially constant level and the mass of crimped yarn in the crimping chamber is maintained constant. In this way a constant and uniform time of treatment in the crimping chamber is assured.

The chamber may be heated by suitable means such as by electrical heating means not shown.

ln the embodiment shown in Fig. 3 similar parts have been given the same reference characters. Take-up roll 59a is mounted in a fixed bracket 65a attached to the plate 11. Take-up roll 58a is carried on an arm 66a pivoted at 67a to the bracket 65a. The rolls 58a and 59a are held in adjustable pressure engagement with the crimped yarn 46 by a leaf spring 8), pivoted about a pin 81 on the bracket 65a and held under adjustable pressure by a pin 82 threaded in the bracket 65aV with its end bearing against the spring 80. The lever 49 is attached to the pin 82 by a set screw 83 so that the pin 82 turns as the plunger 45 rises and falls.

In this embodiment, as the plunger 45 rises due to an increase in quantity of crimped yarn in the crimping chamber the pin 82 is turned by the lever 49 in a direction to increase the pressure on the rolls and thereby reduce the slippage. This increases the rate of withdrawal of the yarn from the chamber and reduces the quantity of material in the chamber. Conversely, when the plunger 45 falls the pin 82 is turned in a direction to reduce the pressure on the rolls and thus increase the yarn slippage. In this way the rate of withdrawal is regulated so as to maintain a constant quantity of material in the chamber.

It is to be understood that the invention is capable of various uses and that changes and adaptations may be made therein as will be apparent to a person skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

l. Apparatus for crimping yarn or the like comprising a member having a bore forming a crimping chamber, a pair of feed rolls to feed said yarn into one end of said chamber for crimping, a pair of take-up rolls to withdraw crimped yarn under tension from the other end of said chamber, a member bearing against the mass of crimped yarn at said other end of said chamber and movable in accordance with changes in the quantity of said yarn therein, and control means responsive to movement of said member and acting on said take-up rolls to vary the yarn slippage in a sense to maintain a constant quantity of yarn in said chamber.

2. Apparatus for crimping yarn or the like comprising a member having a bore forming a crimping chamber, a pair of feed rolls to feed said yarn ,into one end of said chamber for crimping, a pair of take-up rolls to withdraw crimped yarn under tension from thc other end of said chamber, a plunger in said chamber' bearing against the mass of crimped yarn therein and movable in accordance with changes in quantity of yarn in said chamber, and control means responsive to movement of said plunger to vary the pressure of said take-up rolls on said yarn to control the yarn slippage in a sense to maintain a constant quantity of yarn in said chamber.

3. Apparatus for crimping yarn or the like comprising a member having a bore forming a crimping chamber, a pair of feed rolls to feed said yarn into one end of said chamber for crimping, a pair of take-up rolls to withdraw crimped yarn under tension from the other end of said chamber', a plunger in said chamber bearing against the mass of crimped yarn therein and movable in accordance with changes in quantity of yarn in said chamber, and control means responsive to movement of said plunger to vary the clearance between said take-up rolls to control the yarn slippage in a sense te maintain a constant quantity of yarn in said chamber.

4. Apparatus for crimping yarn or the like, comprising a crimping chamber, means feeding said yarn into one end of said chamber for crimping, a pair of take-up rolls disposed to withdraw crimped yarn under tension from the other end of said chamber, means mounting said rolls for relative lateral movement, means holding said rolls in pressure engagement with the yarn to be withdrawn thereby, a plunger in said chamber bearing against the mass of crimped yarn therein and movable in accordance with the quantity of yarn in said chamber, and means responsive to movement of said plunger to vary the pressure of said rolls on said yarn so as to control the yarn slippage in a sense to maintain a constant quantity of yarn in said chamber.

5. Apparatus for crimping yarn or the like, comprising a crimping chamber, means feeding said yarn into one end of said chamber for crimping, a pair of take-up rolls disposed to withdraw crimped yarn under tension from the other end of said chamber, a fixed support carrying one of said rolls, a movable support pivoted to said fixed support and carrying the other of said rolls, spring means holding said rolls in pressure engagement with the yarn to be withdrawn thereby, a plunger in said other end of said chamber bearing against the mass of crimped yarn therein and movable in accordance with changes in quantity of said yarn therein, and means responsive to movement of said plunger to vary the pressure of said spring means so as to control the yarn slippage in a sense to maintain a constant quantity of yarn in said chamber.

6. Apparatus for crimping yarn or the like, comprising a crimping chamber, means feeding said yarn into one end of said chamber for crimping, a pair of take-up rolls disposed to withdraw crimped yarn under tension from the other end of said chamber, a xed support carrying one of said rolls, a movable support pivoted to said fixed support and carrying the other of said rolls, a plunger in said other end of said chamber bearing against the mass of crimped yarn therein and movable in accordance with changes in quantity of said yarn therein, and means responsive to movement of said plunger to vary the clearance between said rolls so as to control the yarn slippage in a sense to maintain a constant quantity of yarn in said chamber.

7. Apparatus for crimping yarn or the like, comprising a crimping chamber, means feeding said yarn into one end of said chamber for crimping, a pair of take-up rolls disposed to withdraw crimped yarn under tension from the other end of said chamber, a fixed support carrying one of said rolls, a movable support pivoted to said xcd support and carrying the other of said rolls, spring means holding said rolls in pressure engagement with the yarn to be withdrawn thereby, a plunger in said other end of said chamber bearing against the mass of crimped yarn therein and movable in accordance with changes in quantity of said yarn therein, a screw carried by said fixed support and adapted to control the pressure of said spring means, and a lever actuated by movement of said plunger to turn said screw so as to Vary the yarn slippage in a sense to maintain a constant quantity of yarn in said chamber.

8. Apparatus for crimping yarn or the like, comprising a crimping chamber, means feeding said yarn into one end of said chamber for crimping, a pair of take-up rolls disposed to withdraw crimped yarn under tension from the other end of said chamber, a fixed support carrying one of said rolls, a movable support pivoted to said xed support and carrying the other of said rolls, spring means holding Said rolls in pressure engagement with the yarn to be withdrawn thereby, a plunger in said other end of said chamber bearing against the mass of crimped yarn therein and movable in accordance with changes in quantity of said yarn therein, a screw carried by said fixed support and adapted to vary the clearance between said rolls for controlling the yarn slippage, and a lever actuated fby movement of said plunger to turn said screw so as to vary the yarn slippage in a sense to maintain a constant quantity of yarn in said chamber.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

